Instructions for a Heatwave ~ Maggie O’Farrell

Instructions for a Heatwave by Maggie O’Farrell is a contemporary historical novel. One day in 1976, during the middle of a stifling heatwave, Gretta Riordan wakes to find that her husband has gone to get a paper and never come home. He’s also cleaned out his bank account. Gretta’s three grown children come home to help solve the mystery of their missing father. Michael Francis, a history teacher whose marriage is failing; Monica, whose two step-daughters hate her and Aoife a resourceful woman living in Manhattan trying desperately to not let her secret slip out. This is a book about family and marriage and how things are not always smooth sailing. 

At one point as a teenager, I read quite a few Maggie O’Farrell books but never got around to reading this one. When I saw it on the shelf at the library, I thought it would be a nice change of pace from what else I’ve been reading lately. I think it was the correct decision despite being a slow-paced book. 

The Riordan family feels so real and as if they are a family that lives down the road. Their history and relationships are all strained for various reasons, but not unbelievably so. It’s fair to say that we all probably know people like them but are not aware of how much they are struggling.  

I was expecting a bit more mystery about where their husband/father had gone but was met with a book that was entirely based on the family’s dynamics. I found that I didn’t mind. The mystery was solved but it definitely took a back seat to the Riordan family sorting through their issues.

Overall this was a decent book, just maybe had a little too much character plot for my liking. I gave it three point seven five stars. It did make me want to read some more Maggie O’Farrell books though. 

C🌙